<p>My college counselor said that being a summer camp counselor is actually 'negative points' on your application simply because it's 'fun.' Is this true? This summer will be the most important (summer before senior year) and I am going to be a counselor but my mentor wants me to work in an ice cream shop (she thinks this will be more impressive...). Is this true?</p>
<p>I've tried looking for internships in businesses but I'm too young for all of them. And I can't do research because I don't want to go into the sciences, but I am considering taking a class.</p>
<p>So, is it really that bad to be a counselor, especially when looking at schools including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton (considering other great ECs and essays)? I honestly dont know what to do lol. Thank you!</p>
<p>I’m not a professional college counselor (so what do I know?), but I cannot fathom how working at an ice cream parlor would look any better than working as a camp counselor. Personally, I would be more impressed with the camp counselor… especially if the camp was in any way related to your ECs, interests, or planned major or career (eg; you’re a soccer player working at a soccer camp, or a musician teaching music at the camp). I’m interested to see what others have to say. For what it’s worth, my D got into some pretty selective schools, and she worked each summer at a cheerleading camp.</p>
<p>I totally agree! I even called Harvard and they said that it looks very impressive, especially if it has to do with your interests (as you said jea). They even said that with an internship, they know you’re just going to be filing and getting coffee for the employees and that’s not very impressive. I guess my college counselor was wrong then! Thanks guys :)</p>
<p>If they said “very impressive,” then they were being very nice. It’s fine. It’s a constructive use of your time during the summer. It requires a level of maturity and responsibility. All of that is good. But it’s not “very impressive.” Nobody in Cambridge, Mass., is going to say, “Hold on a minute, diddly123 is a camp counselor! Let’s clear out a few of these Presidential Scholars and make some room for diddly!”</p>
<p>Nevertheless, your college counselor must be on drugs. That’s really ridiculous advice.</p>
<p>“My college counselor said that being a summer camp counselor is actually ‘negative points’ on your application simply because it’s ‘fun.’”</p>
<p>So what, if it’s enjoyable then it’s a bad EC?
Colleges want people with passion, so isn’t it actually better if you think your ECs are fun (as long as they’re also productive)?</p>
<p>In addition to what is above, remember that camp counselors are trusted with a person’s most valuable possession - his or her CHILD.
That’s kind of a bigger deal than a scoop of ice cream.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone!! I think my counselor is notorious for this kind of thing. And sikorsky, I wrote that original message at 2:30 AM and I think i just meant to write ‘impressive’ haha. Obviously it’s not anything outstanding, but I do believe that it shows responsibility like all of you said. Especially when working with three-year-olds (now that’s challenging!).</p>